spencer



(No Model.) 4 Sheet-sSheet 1.

I. 'H. SPENCER. AIR COMPRESSOR.

No. 588,296. Patented Aug. 17,1897.

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I a I I I i I I i I I I I I I 1 m I I ii I Q I I U I. I :l I IIII I w ina/anion (No Model.) 4 S heetsSheet 2.

I. H. SPENCER. AIR COMPRESSOR.

No. 588,296. Patented Aug. 17,1897.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet, 3

I. H. SPENCER.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

N0. 588,299 Patented Au 1? 1897.

Ira HAY 26210492". 76m 64,4241,

By his Jtozwey,

mz scams Perms co. ranTo-u-rua, WASHINQYUN, n. cy

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

I. H. SPENCER.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

No. 588,296. Patented Aug-1 7, 1897.

Witnesses N Inventor: 1 I H J 49726621 A9 2 5; fair Jag/way,

mbwmms PETERS co. mum-mo" wnsnmm N UNrreEn STATES PATENT ()ri icn.

IRA I i. SPENCER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPENCER MOTOR COMPANY, or SAME PLACE.

AIR-COMPRESSOR.

sPE'CIFICATion forming part of Letters Patent at; 588,296, te August 17, 1897. Application filed October 21, 1896. Serial No. 609,514.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, IRA H. SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, inthe county of-Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and use} ful Improvements in Air- Compressors, of which the following is a specification. k

I This invention relates'to that class of aircompressors generally known as hydraulic air-compressors, one object of the invention being to furnish an improved, compactgand efficient hydraulic air-compressorof simplified construction and organization especially adapted for use as a forc'e'pump for forcing liquids outof receptacles 'suchas barrels, &c.and which may be readily connected withan ordinary water-service pipe and be op erated by the pressure of Water introduced by said service-pipe and which will develop the maximum air-pressure et'ficiency to a given water-pressure. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide, in connection with the piston-cylinder and piston of an air-compressor of the class specified, an improved andmaterially-simplified water-distributing apparatus embodying a rotary reciprocatory'valve, and also to provide means in connection with said valve and piston whereby the" valve will'have apar'tialrotation imparted to it by and at each return stroke of the piston and to so construct the valve that water will be admitted to the valvecasing and effect a longitudinal movement of the valve simultaneously with or immediately succeeding the partial rotation of said valve and thereby admit live Water back of the piston-head and effect a working stroke of the piston, as will be hereinafter described;

A further object of the invention is to furnish a hydraulic air-compressor having an improved Water-distributin g apparatus embodying a rotary reciprocatory valve, the constructionand organization of the parts of which are such as will reduce the length of the portpassages to the minimum for the purpose of bringing the main watersupply into the closest practical relation with the piston-cylinder and thereby secure to the compressorpiston a quick action upon the admissiouof the live water to the valve-chest and reduce the friction of the working parts to the minimum.

Afurther object of the invention is to furnish an air-compressor of the class specified embodying a piston-cylinder, a compressorpiston, and a rotary reciprocatory distributing valve, all of which are supported in substantially concentric relation and are so balanced as to obviate the injurious pounding common to many air-compressors of ordinary construction to thereby render the working of the air-compressor practically noiseless.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hydraulic air-compressor embodying one form of my present invention,

the inlet and outlet pipes leading'to the chest of the distributing-valve being brokenaway. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section, on a :relatively larger scale, taken in dotted' lines a a, Fig. 1, and showing one end of the airco'mpressor illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on a line corresponding with the dotted line b b, Fig. 2, of a portion of one end of said air-compressor, showing the air-valve and air-inlet and air-outlet at this end of said compressor. Figs. 4 and 5 are plan and side views, respectively, of the fluidedistributing valve.

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of the middle portion of the air-compressor shown in Figs. 1 and 2, taken on a line corresponding to dotted line c c, Fig. 7, and looking toward the left-hand of said figure, said figure showing one of the piston-heads near the end of its return stroke and in its valve-operating position and showin thedistributing-valve having been shifted rotatably into position to admit fluid from the inlet supply-ductto the right-hand end of the valve-case and between the head of the valvecase and the piston-valve to shift said valve longitudinally to theposition shown in Fig. 8, hereinafter described, the positions of the parts in this figure corresponding to the positions of like parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken in a line corresponding to the dotted line d d, Fig. 6, and showing the distributing-valve in the same position as that illustrated in said Fig. 6. Fig.

8 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 6,

showing the left-hand of the piston-head near the end of its return stroke and as having oscillated the distributing-valve to the position shown in Fig. 9 to admit water back of the left-hand end of the distrilmting-valve, whereby said valve will be shifted back to the position shown in Fig. (i to admit water for effecting a forward movement of the piston, as will be understood by the arrows in Fig. 6. In the positions of the parts shown in Fig. 8 water is being expelled from one cylinder and is being admitted to the other cylinder, as indicated by the arrows in said figure. Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 7, showing the dist-ributingvalve in the position it occupies when the piston is in the position shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of a slightly-modified form of air-compressor embodying my invention, said section being taken on a line corresponding to the dotted line 6 c, Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the air-compressor shown in Fig. 10, said section being taken on a line corresponding to the dotted line ff, Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 is a sectional side elevation of an air-compressorembodying mypresent invention, said figure showing a slightlymodified form of piston and airchamber. In this modification the piston heads are shown in the nature of flexible diaphrams and constitute flexible partitions between the water and air cylinders or chambers.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In Figs. 2, l0, and 12, respectively, of the drawings I have for convenience shown three relatively modified forms of compressors, each of which embodies the essential features of my invention, the water-distributin g apparatus in both modifications being substantially the same, although the organization thereof relatively to other parts of the air-compressor is shown somewhat different in Fig. 10 from that shown in either Fig. 2 or Fig. 12.

In the preferred construction and organization thereof (shown in Figs. 2 and 12) the air-compressor comprises two piston-cylinders O and 0, set end for end in concentric relation and each having a valve-controlled air-inlet and a valve-controlled air-outlet at the outer end thereof, two pistons P and P, preferably connected together for unitary action and each working in a cylinder and dividing the same into two com partments,which compartments will be hereinafter termed the water ant air compartments, respectively; a water-distributing apparatus (designated in a general way by B) interposed between the two inner adjacent ends of the piston cylinders and embodying an annular valve-chamber, preferably located in concentric relation with the piston-cylinders and having suitable inlet and outlet ducts or waterways through which water may be admitted to and expelled from the water-compartments of the cylinders; a rotary reciprocatory Valve (designated in a general way by V) 10- cated in the valve-chest and adapted for controlling the ingress and egress of water to and from the water-compartments of the cylinders; valve-actuating means controlled by the movements of the pistons for impartin g alternately opposite rotative movements to the valve, and means for establishing communication between the main water-s11 pply and one or the other ends of the valve-chest simultaneously with the rotative movement of the valve.

Each water and air cylinder 0 or C may be either cylindrical and symmetrical from end to end, as shown in Fig. 1, or may be cylindrical for a portion of its length and have a discoidal head at its outer end, as shown in Fig. 12, this being a matter of preference.

The cylinder-heads, which are designated by h and 71/, respectively, are each shown transversely bored to form the valve-diam bers 22 and 23 and an air-inlet and an airoutlet 22 and 23, respectively, which lead to the mlvechambers 22 and 23, respectively, said valve-chain bers 22 and 23 being furnished with inlet and outlet Valves 24 and 25, respectively, which control the ingress and egress of air to and from the cylinder, an air-passage 26 being formed through the head of the cylinder and establishing communication between the interior of said cylinder and one of the valve-chambers, as 22.

Any suitable valve mechanism for control ling the ingress and egress of air to and from the cylinder may be employed, although the expansion cup-shaped valve shown in the drawings is preferable.

\Vorking in the cylinders C and C are two pistons P and 1, respectively, which are shown connected together for unitary action by connecting-rods 27 and 27, which extend through bushings in the two water-compartments 13 and 14, respectively, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 7, and 9 of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and to Fig. 12, it will be seen that the piston divides its respective cylinder transversely into two compartments or chambers, the compartments of the cylinder 0 being designated by e and f, respectively, and those of the cylinder 0' being designated by c and f, respectively, of which those portions of the cylinder between the pistons and heads of the cylinders constitute at all times what will be hereinafter termed the air compartments or chambers e and e, respectively, and of which those portions of the cylinders between said pistons and the water-distributing apparatus B will at all times constitute what will be hereinafter termed the water compartments or ehambersfandf, respectively.

In Fig. 2 the pistons P and P are shown rigid and supported for free sliding movement with relation to the cylinders G and 0, whereas in Fig. 12 the pistons and heads are shown provided with flexible diaphragms which are fixed at their peripheries to the peripheries of the discoidal cylinder-heads and IIO are adapted to vibrate during the reciprocatory movement of the piston-heads for the purpose of compressing the air contained in the air-chambers e e.

The water-distributing apparatus 13 in part comprises a main casing or body portion 2, which will preferably be cylindrical in form, and has an external diameter slightly in eX- cess of the external diameter of the inner por-' tion of the cylinders, and will have inlet and exhaust openings 3 and 4 at opposite sides, respectively, thereof, as shown most clearly in Figs. 6 to 9 of the drawings.

The main body portion of the water-distributing apparatus is constructed to form two concentric annular chambers c and respectively, the inner one of which constitutes a valve-chamber, and is surrounded by the outer chamber 0, which communicates at one side of the valve-chamber and at opposite ends thereof with the two cylinders O and O,

as will be hereinafter more fully described. The outer annular chamber 0 is shown divided into six compartments or waterways (designated by 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15, re.- spectively) by means of vertically-disposed parti-ci'rcular partitions and 6, located in planes intersecting the longitudinal axis of the valve-chamber c, and by horizontally disposed partitions 7 and .8, located at substantially right angles to the partition-walls 5 and 6 and in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of said valve-chamber c.

, The compartment 9 of the series of comlocated at opposite sides of the middle cham-' ber 15, which middle chamber constitutes an exhaust-chamber and communicates with the central portion of the valve-chamber c and through the exhaust-opening 4 with an exhaust-pipe 4' and open at opposite ends, respectively, through the main body portion of the water-distributing apparatus into the cylinders O and C, and also communicate at opposite sides of the exhaust-chamber 15, through port-passages 10 and 12, respectively, with the valve-chamber c at points slightly out of alinement with the inlet-openings 16 and '17 of the valve-chamber and at the opposite side of said chamber, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, of the drawings.

The two compartments 13 and 14, which are located in the plane of the axis of the valvechamber 0 at opposite sides thereof and between the upper compartments 10 and 12 and the lower compartment 9, communicate, re-

spectively, with opposite ends of the valvechamber a, through ports 20 and 21, formed through opposite side walls of said valvechamber, each of which ports is alternately brought into communication with the main water supply and exhaust through the medium of a valve which will be hereinafter fully described.

As a simple and convenient means for opening and closing the ports (hereinafter more fully described) leading into the valve-chamber c. and .from said valve-chamber to the water=compartments fand f of the two cylinders C and C to control the induction-of live water to and the exhaust from said compartments I have provided a distributing-valve, (designated in a general way by V,) which valve issupported in the valve-chamber for independent rotary and reciprocatory movements in relatively transverse directions and is self-acting in certain movements, that will be hereinafter set forth. This rotary reciprocatory water-distributing valve, which is shown in the drawings as a double-acting valve, comprises in the preferred form thereof (shown most clearly in Figs. 4, 5, and 7 of the drawings) two annular end flanges or heads 30 and 30, respectively, and two intermediate substantially annular flanges 31 and 31', respectively, which are connected to the two end flanges or heads by axiallydisposed stems 32 and 32', respectively, and are separated from said heads by annular water-spaces 33 and 33, respectively, and which intermediate flanges 31 and 31 are connected together at opposite sides of the aXis by parti-tubular connecting-webs 34 and 34, which are separated at their inner faces by a water-space or opening 35, and which are open at their outer faces to the inner face of the valve-chamber c and constitute ports adapted on the rotation of the valve in alternately opposite directions for establishing communication between the annular waterways 33 and 33 and the waterways 13 and 14 of the water-distributing apparatus D, as will be readily understood by .a comparison of the figures referred to in this valve, which communicates directly with the live-water-supply chamber 9, thus admitting water to the water-compartment f of the cylinder O, and the duct 12 is open to the space between the two intermediate flanges of the valve and to the exhaust-compartment 15.

Furthermore, in this position of the valve the port 34 of the valve establishes communication between the water-supply compartment 9'and the waterway or compartment 13 of the water-distributing apparatus, whereby the water so admitted passes through said waterway 13 to the right-hand end of the valve-chamber c and between the head of the valve and the end wall of the valve-chamber, thus causing said valve to be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 8, the water contained in the opposite end of the valve-chamber being exhausted through the waterway 14, around the outside of the valve-port 3%, to the space between the intermediate or cut-off flanges 31 and 31, and thence into the exhaust-pipe 3..

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the valve has a rotative movement imparted thereto one of the valve-ports 34 or 34 will be so disposed as to facilitate the induction of water to one end of the valvechamber for shifting the valve in one direction and the other of said ports will be so disposed as to facilitate the eduction of water from the opposite end of said valve-chamber, and that when the valve is so shifted one or the other of the ports 10 and 12, which communicate with the water-compartments f and f of the cylinders C and C, respectively, will be open to the water-supply compartment 9 and the other of said ports will be open to the exhaust-compartment 15.

As a convenient means for automatically effecting alternately opposite rotative movements of the water-distributing valve V, I have provided two substantially duplicate valve-actuating devices in operative relation with opposite ends, respectively, of the valve of each actuating device and which, in the preferred form thereof shown in the drawings, comprises two valve-actuatin g members, one of which is in the nature of a valve-stem having a laterally-projecting arm fixed to the outer end thereof and which valve-stem is supported for a limited amount of longitudinal movement in the end of the valve and is held as against rotative movement with relation to said valve and the other of which actuating members is in the nature of a cam carried on the piston in posit-ion for engaging the valve-stem arm and for partially rotating said arm to effect a rotative movement of said valve. The valve-stems at opposite ends of the valve are designated by 40 and 41, respectively, the laterally-projecting arms on said valve-stems are designated by 40 and 41, respectively, and the cams fixed to the opposing pistons are designated by 42 and 42, respectively.

As a means for securing the valve-stems to their respective ends of the valve and facilitate a longitudinal and non-rotative movement of said stem with relation to said valve and at the same time limit the longitudinal movement thereof each valve-stem is preferably square cross-sectionally at its inner end and is seated in a square axial opening in the end of the valve-stem and is furnished with a flange 44 intermediate the ends thereof, which flange is adapted for abutting against one face of the end wall of the valve-chambcr c and against the outer end face of the valve, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, and as a means for rotating the valve-stem -10 and 41 and the connected valve alternately and in opposite directions, and for controlling the rotative movements of said valve by the inward strokes of the pistons the cams 42 and 43 are secured to the pistons P and P, respectively, with their cam-faces 43 and 43 in opposing angles, and the laterallyprojecting valvestem arms are set to intercept the path of movement of said cam-faces.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the piston P is near the completion of its inward stroke the cam-face 43 of the cam 42' engages the valve-stem arm and shifts the valve-stem and valve from the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to that shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7, which opens communication between the live-water reservoir 9 of the water-distributing apparatus and the right-hand end of the valve-chamber 0, thus causing said valve to be shifted from the position shown in Figs. 2 and (3 to that shown in Fig. 8, and when the piston P is near the completion of its inward stroke this operation is reversed, as will be readily understood by a comparison of the several figures of the drawings.

By reference to Figs. 2, 6, and 8 it will be seen that the valve-stems are of such length relatively to the stroke of the valve that when the valve is at the end of one stroke the laterally-projecting arm of one or the other valve-stem will be located considerably beyond the outer face of the valve-casing, so that in case the valve should stick or should not be shifted instantly on the admission of live water to the end of the valve-chamber c the piston will, after the cam has engaged the laterally-projecting valve-stem arm and rotated the valve, strike the end of the valvestem, forcing the same inward, thereby giving a starting impetus to the valve as will insure the continued stroke of said valve.

In the construction and organization of aircompressors shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and in Fig. 12 air is admitted and compressed in the air-compartments e and e, the air being drawn into the induction-valves 24: and 2 L at opposite ends of the cylinders O and O and expelled through the valves 25 and 25 into the air-outlets 23 and 23, whence it is conducted to the receptacle (not shown) from which it is desired to force liquid, and the water for actuating the pistons is admitted to the water-compartments f and f at the opposite sides of the pistons and at opposite ends of the water-distributing apparatus,as will be understood by a comparison of the figures referred to and the foregoing description.

It will be understood that this invention is not strictly limited to the particular construction of cylinder and piston mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and in Fig. 12, as these may be variously modified within the scopes and limits of my invention.

In Figs. and 11 I have shown the air-compressor having two relatively independent cylinders, one of which is exclusively an aircylinder and the other of which is exclusively a water-cylinder. In this construction and organization of the air-compressor mechanism the water-distributing apparatus is substantially the same in construction and operation as that hereinbefore described in connection with the air-compressor shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and in Fig.12, although the piston mechanism is slightly modified. In this case one water-piston P is provided, which works in the watenchamber of the cylinder 0, and water is admitted from the opposite ends of the water-distributing apparatus B to opposite sides alternately of the piston P. This piston is connected by a piston-rod which extends through a bushing in the outer end of the cylinder 0 to a piston P, which works in the compartment e of the relatively small cylinder O. This cylinder is furnished, at opposite ends thereof,'with valve-controlled air outlets and inlets, which are substantially the same as the valve outlets and inlets hereinbefore'described in connection with the two cylinders of the air-compressor shown in Fig. 1. In the operation of the air-compressor shown in Figs. 10 and 11 water is first admitted through the water-distributing apparatus to one side of the piston, which shifts the said piston and the connected air-piston in one direction and compresses the air in the air-cylinder 'O in, and forces the same out through, the air-outlet at one end of said cylinder, after which live water is admitted to the opposite side of the water-piston P, which shifts the piston P and connected piston P in the opposite direction, exhausting the utilized Water and drawing air through the air-inlet into the air-cylinder at one side-of the piston and simultaneously compressing'and forcing the air contained in the cylinder at the opposite side of said piston out through the air-outlet at the other end of said cylinder.

The means employed in connection with the air-compressor shown in Figs. 10 and 11 for imparting rotative movements to the valve is similar in a general way to like means employed in connection with the air-compressor shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this instance a reciprocatory cam for'said actuator (designated in a general Way by g) is employed for effecting'a rotative movement of the valvestemand actuating-valve at the ends of opposite strokes of the piston. This cam for said actuator is' in the nature of a plate 45, supported for movement longitudinally of the axis of the valve and having an inclined camslot 46, through which is extended the laterally-projecting arm of the valve-stem. This cam-plate is carried at the lower end of a rod 47, which extends upward into an axial recess of the piston-rod, and is provided at the upper end thereofwith a head which when the piston approaches the end of its outstroke is engaged by an abutment 48 and is lifted to early the plate 45 to the position shown in Figs. 10 and 11, which through the medium of the cam-slot 46 shifts the valve in one direction, and when the piston is near the end of the inward stroke'thereof said piston depresses said plate, which, as will be apparent, will shift the arm ofthe valve-stem and the connected valve in an opposite direction. As a means for preventing lateral movement of the cam-plate 45, said plate is flanged at the upper end thereof and is furnished with guide-rods 50 and 50,which extend into guideways formed in the water-distributing apparatus.

In the construction and organization of upright air-compressors, (shown in Figs. 10 and 11,) live water is introduced into one end of the cylinder directly through the water-compartment 12 of the water-distributin g apparatus and is introduced to the opposite end of said cylinder through waterways 51 and 51, which extend longitudinally of the cylinder from the upper end of said cylinder opposite the Water-distributing apparatus and com municate with the water-compartment 10 at the opposite end of said water-distributing apparatus. Thus it will be seen that water is supplied to the cylinder at opposite sides alternately of the piston first through the water-compartment 12 at one end of the waterdistributing apparatus and then through the water-compartment 10 at the opposite end of the water-distributing apparatus in substantially the same manner as Water is supplied to the cylinders O and O of the air-compressor shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and in Fig. 12. The operation of the valve mechanism in the air-compressor shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is substantially the same as the valve mechanism shown in connection with the air-compressors illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 12, and hereinbefore fully described.

7 By the construction and organization of water-distributing apparatu sin connection with piston mechanism of the air compressors, such as hereinbefore described, it will be seen that I have materially simplified the construction and organization of the parts and employ but a single valve for controlling the induction and eduction of water to the water-001m partments of the cylinders of the air-compressor and materially decrease the length of the parts, thereby bringing the water-compartments of the cylinders into the closest possible relation with the live-water supply, thus materially reducing friction and securing a quick responsive action of the piston at each operation of the valve.

The air-compressor will be supported upon any suitable base, such as D, which may be fixed to a part of the main body portion of the casing of the water-distributing apparatus, as shown in the drawings.

In making a connection of the air co1npressor for expelling materials from receptacles the inlet-pipe 3 will be connected by a suitable coupling (not shown) to any ordinary Lil water-service pipe. The exhaust-pipe l will be connected to a suitable drain or waste pipe and the two air-outlet nozzles will be connected by a suitable connecting-pipe (not shown) to the barrel or receptacle from which the contents are to be expelled, after which the apparatus may be put into operation by simply turning on the water from the servicepipe, this mode of connection being well known and in common use with many hydraulic air-compressors.

The term rotary reciprocatory valve is used in this specification to denote a valve that is supported to have independent rotary and reciprocatory movements in relatively transverse directions.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with a water-cylinder and a piston working therein, of a valve-casing having inlet and exhaust openings and also having a water-compartment in communication with the water-cylinder; a valve supported for rotary and reciprocatory movements in relatively transverse directions; and means actuated by the piston, for imparting a rotative movement to the valve at a predetermined point in the stroke of said piston.

2. The combination, with a piston-cylinder and a piston, of a water-distributing apparatus located in substantially concentric relation with said cylinderand embodying a valve supported for relatively transverse rotary and reciprocatory movements; and means controlled by the inward stroke of the piston for actuating the valve.

3. The combination with two aXially-alined cylinders and with two reciprocatory pistons located one in each cylinder and connected for unitary movement, of a water-distributing apparatus located between and connecting the two adjacent ends of the cylinders and embodying a valve-chamber having inlet and outlet ports adapted for communication with the two cylinders, alternately; a valve supported in said valve-chamber for independent and rotatory reciprocatory movements in relatively transverse directions; and means controlled by the instroke of the pistons, for imparting alternatelyopposite rotative m ovements to said valve.

4. In an air-compressor, the combination with one or more cylinders and one or more pistons therein, and with a valve-actuating member controlled by the movements of each piston; of a waterdistributing apparatus embodying two concentric chambers located one within the other and the outer chamber of which has an inlet and an exhaust opening and also has a water compartment or com partments in communication with the cylinder or cylinders, and the inner chamber of which has ports leading to the outer chamber; a rotary reciprocatory valve supported in the inner chamber; and a valve-actuating member or members in operative connection with said valve and positioned to be actuated by the complementary actuating member or members controlled by the stroke of the piston or pistons.

5. The combination with a piston-cylinder and a piston working in said cylinder, of a valve-chamber supported in axial alinement with said cylinder and having ports leading to said cylinder; a valve supported in said cylinder for independent reciprocatory and rotary movements; and a piston-controlled valve-actuatin g device operable in the cylinder and controlled by the strokes of the piston, for imparting rotative movements to said valve.

6. The combination with a piston-cylinder and with a piston working in said cylinder, of a valve-chamber supported in axial alinement with and extending into, and having ports adapted for communication with, said cylinder; a water-su pply chamber adapted for communicating with the valve-chamber and having an outlet-opening; a rotary reciprocatory valve supported in said valve-chamber and operable for establishing communication between the water-supply chamber and the piston-cylinder; and two complementary valve-actuating members, one of which is carried by the piston, and the other of which is carried by the valve in position to be actuated by the members carried by said piston, whereby a rotative movement will be imparted to the valve at each inward stroke of the piston.

7. In an air-compressor, the combination with a piston-cylinder, a piston, and with a valve-actuating member carried by said piston; of a water-distributing apparatus comprising two annular chambers located one within the other, the outer chamber of which is divided radially and transversely to form three water-compartments, one of which constitutes an exhaust-compartment and communicates with the interior of the valve-chamber, another of which communicates with the cylinder and with the interior of the valve-chamber, and the other of which communicates with the interior of the valve-chamber and has a supply-inlet, and which outer chamber also has two independent waterways controlled by the movements of a valve for effecting communication between the middle portion and opposite end portions,alternately, of the valve-chamber; a rotary reciprocatory valve having ports in positions for alternately establishing communication between the water-supply compartment of the outer cylinder and the opposite ends of the valve-chamber and also having a flange for cutting oif and establishing, alternately, communication between the piston-cylinder and water-supply compartment; and means controlled by the strokes of the piston, for effecting alternately opposite rotative movements of the valve.

8. The combination with two cylinders set end for end in concentric relation and with pistons working in said cylinders, and a valve-chamber located between and communicating with the adjacent ends of said cyl- IIO inders; a water-supply chamber surrounding said valve-chamber and having waterways communicating with the two cylinders and having closable ports in communication with said valve-chamber; a rotary reciprocatory valve contained in the valve-chamber in axial alinement with the piston and embodying means for opening and closing the ports of the surrounding chamber; valve-actuating stems carried at opposite ends of the valve and having laterally-projecting arms and cams carried by the pistons in position to engage and actuate the valve-chambers to rotate the valve in opposite directions, alternately,

9. In an air-compressor, the combination of twocylinders having air inlets and outlets and water inlets and outlets at opposite ends; pistons in said cylinders; a valve-chamber located between the adjacent ends of said cylinders and having ports for effecting communication between the interior of the valvechamber and the two cylinders, alternately; a rotary reciprocatory valve located in said valvechamber; and valve-closable ports leading from the middle portion of said valvechamber at opposite sides thereof and two valve-actuators located at opposite ends of the valve and controlled by the instrokes of the pistons, for imparting alternately opposite rotative movements to said valve to thereby establish communication between the mid- I dle portion of the valve-chamber and the opterior of the valve-chamber and the two cylinders, alternately.

1.0. In an air-compressor, the combination, with a cylinder, of a piston having a flexible diaphragm or head fixed at its periphery to the interior of the cylinder and dividing said cylinder into an air and a Water compartment; a water-distributing apparatus located in concentric relation with said cylinder and embodying a valve supported to have independent reciprocatory and rotary movements in relatively transverse directions; ports connecting the water-supply apparatus and cylinder; and avalve-actuator controlled bythe strokes of the piston forimparting alternately opposite rotative movements to said valve.

11. The combination, with a piston-cylinder having an air-inlet and an air-outlet and with a piston working therein, of a valvechest having an inlet and an exhaust opening; a valve supported in said chest for independent movements in relatively transverse directions; means controlled by the pis: ton, on opposite strokes thereof, for imparting to the valve rotary movements in alternately. reverse directions; means controlled by the valve, on alternate movements thereof, for effecting alternately reverse longitudinally-reciprocatory movements of said valve; and means controlled by the longitudinallyreciprocatory movements of the valve for conductingfluid alternately to and away from the piston-cylinder.

- IRA l-I. SPENCER. Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, HEATH SUTHERLAND. 

